B2 Speaking Scores
Speaking B2 Scores
The Cambridge B2 speaking exam marks are evaluated under a number of categories. Here we’ll take a look at what these B2 speaking scores are and how each of the categories is part of your score.
B2 Examiner Scores
The first thing to point out about all of the Cambridge exams is that the bands go from 0-5 and from a score of 1 they increase in 0.5 marks. For example 0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, …
A pass mark is an overall score of Band 3 but examiners are constantly evaluating how a candidate is performing in the whole speaking test and they only decide on a final score at the end. It is likely that a performance will change during the test but it is the overall opinion that confirms the final mark.
The categories that examiners use for B2 speaking scores are as follows
- Grammar and Vocabulary
- Discourse Management
- Pronunciation
- Interactive Communication
There is also one extra final global score which comes from the interlocutor or the person who is asking the questions.
So how do the examiners look at the individual scores for each category?
Grammar and Vocabulary
Grammar and Vocabulary is where the examiner looks at the range of grammar and vocabulary that a candidate shows in an answer. This is a Part 1 example.
Tell us about your favourite park where you live
Near my house there is a very big park and it has lots of places to walk. There is also a little lake where you can watch the birds and there are some cafes where you can sit and drink coffee. It’s a very quiet place even in the centre of the city and I enjoy it.
This answer has a variety of different simple grammar forms and all of them are used accurately. This should be a familiar topic and the candidate also has sufficient vocabulary to talk about the things you can find in a park and a city. This is probably a score of 3.5 or higher.
Discourse Management
The examiner looks at two basic things here; whether you can offer a longer opinion on a topic and if you can generally do it without pausing too much. The examiner also looks at the type of linking words you use and how well you can use them. So, the key here is to try to keep talking and to make sure that any opinions you give are linked together. Look at these two examples from a Part 3 task.
Answer 1
I think going to the gym is the best option and there are many gyms you can visit.Answer 2
I think going to the gym is the best option, because it is something that you can do all the time. For example, in winter you don’t have to think about the weather if you want to take some exercise. And that, in my opinion, makes it a perfect way to exercise.
Answer 1 does not explain why the candidate believes this. You can clearly see in the second example here that there are details about why they have this opinion.
This second response uses a number of expressions to join ideas together and it also gies an extra example using for example. This is a good example of an answer with a selection of linking devices used correctly and if this is the general level of a candidate it should be a Band 4 score.
Pronunciation
The examiner here looks at how the candidate pronounces words and English sounds and also how they express their ideas across sentences. For Cambridge B2, candidates should be fairly easy to understand although you may have some pronunciation sounds from your own language. You also need to be be able to use stress generally correctly in sentences There are some examples of B2 level pronunciation on the English With Cambridge channel.
Interactive Communication
Interactive communication looks at a number of things. The first thing it looks at is whether you are interacting with your partner. That includes responding to what they say but also allowing them to give their own opinion. The second element the examiner looks at is your response. Here’s an example of good interaction between candidates in a Part 4 task.
Some people say it is a waste of time to go to the gym and that you can exercise outside for free? What do you think?
B: I love going to the gym. It’s my favourite type of exercise because I can do lots of types of activities which you can’t do outside. So, for example, I can use a bike or do exercises with weights or maybe swim. This is impossible outside because you have to go to different places to do different exercises.
Do you agree?
A: Yes a little bit. One problem is that some gyms can be very expensive and this is difficult for people who don’t have much money. Also, another problem is that there is not a gym in the local area so it will be necessary for people to be outside for exercise.
In this example the second candidate partially agrees with their partner’s opinion about going to they gym but then identifies some possible problems and challenges.
The key factor in Interaction scores is the ability to respond to a partner and to develop further ideas so when candidates participate well in both Part 3 & Part 4 a score of Band 4 is achievable.
Global Speaking Score
The last of the B2 speaking scores comes from the person who asks questions. What it refers to is their overall opinion of how a candidate has performed a test. So, for a score of 3 for example, they consider that the candidate has been able to communicate their ideas fairly well and that is the language is reasonably accurate.
One thing to remind yourself is that it’s not a score on one individual part. The examiner is constantly evaluating how candidates perform during the whole 14 minutes of their speaking test. However, there are probably better opportunities for candidates to show a range range of language in Part 3 and particularly in Part 4. So, be sure you take advantage of this!
Take a look at our review of a Cambridge B2 Speaking Test and think about how the candidates perform for each of these categories. We also offer a number of speaking practice books.